We Could Have Some Crowds Back In The Stadiums For The Australia Series: Graeme Smith

Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) Director of Cricket, Graeme Smith, is optimistic about the return of crowds in the stadiums when Australia comes for a tour next year. The Australian team is expected to visit South Africa in February-March 2021, although no official schedule is released.

It will be Australia’s first Test series in South Africa since 2018 when the ball-tampering saga took place in Cape Town. Post the incident, Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were handed bans from Cricket Australia. Australia though travelled to South Africa earlier this year for limited-overs matches. The visitors won the T20I series, while the hosts clean-sweeped the ODI series.

The South African fans will be grateful to host Australia: Graeme Smith

Graeme Smith is positive about fans being allowed into the stadiums by the time Australia comes to play if the situation regarding the covid improves. The former South African skipper believes that the prospect of having the arena filled again is exciting.

 Graeme Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald, “We’re kind of looking at the Australian series, hopefully, if all goes well with COVID, to have some crowds back in the stadiums. There’ll be way more excitement around that than anything else.”

The 39-year-old Graeme Smith talked about the reaction which Smith and Warner would get in the Test series from the South African fans. He said that nobody can completely control it, as in any sport around the world, some people in the stadium will always be seen sledging the players.

The former opener understands that it is a part of the game, and players have to face it at the international level. He thinks that the home fans will be grateful to have a quality team like Australia playing in their country.

Graeme Smith said, “You can control it to the best of your ability. There’s not a place in the world where there hasn’t been a fan chirping or having a crack.

“That’s part of playing sport at the highest level in opposition countries. We’ll try our best to marshall it. I think South African fans will be grateful to have a quality team like Australia playing.”

The Quinton de Kock led side is currently hosting England for 3 T20Is starting 27th November followed by a 3-match ODI series.

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